Academics

School and College Counseling

From Our Counseling Team

Magnificat's Counseling Department has over 50 years of collective experience and brings a wealth of knowledge ranging from academic and college planning to mental health and crisis intervention. We are looking forward to sharing our knowledge and passion while we work individually with your students and in small groups during Compass Classes and Advisory. It is our goal to tailor interactions with students and provide thoughtful and meaningful content in small-group settings.

List of 3 items.

  • Our Commitment

    In keeping with the Magnificat High School Mission statement “…to educate young women holistically to learn lead and serve in the spirit of Mary’s Magnificat” and the American School Counseling Association Code of Ethics, our professional school counselors at Magnificat High School are committed to meeting the students’ needs in three domains: academic, personal/social and college/career.
  • Our Philosophy

    Our philosophy is embedded in the Mission of Magnificat, as we strive to meet each student’s needs personally, academically and in the career/college process. We have a commitment to each student to treat her holistically. Counselors collaborate with faculty and parents, forming a partnership in their roles as co-educators. The Counseling Team is committed to integrating mental health and other relevant topics in small groups while tailoring individual conversations to meet the needs of each unique student experience.
  • Accreditation

    Magnificat High School is accredited by the Ohio Catholic School Accrediting Associationand is chartered by the Ohio State Department of Education. It holds membership in the National Catholic Education Association, National Association for College Admissions Counseling, NAIS, National Coalition of Girls Schools, Ohio Association for College Admissions Counseling and the College Board, Secondary School Division. Magnificat High School has been recognized by the United States Department of Education as an Exemplary School.
The Magnificat High School counseling program seeks to assist each student in meeting her individual needs as she strives to become a young woman who learns, leads and serves in the spirit of Mary’s Magnificat. Counselors not only provide counseling services to students, but also assist faculty and parents in any way possible in their roles as co-educators.

The comprehensive Counseling Department serves students in three primary areas that are rooted in the American School Counseling Association’s (ASCA) model; academic, personal/social and college/career.

Each student has a weekly Compass class with her school counselor as part of her schedule. Seeing students on a weekly basis allows the counselors to form close relationships with the students. Counselors are also available to students on an individual basis.

Our programming also involves parent education in regard to planning for college, beginning in the sophomore year. College admission and financial aid professionals are part of the programming.

Overview of College Counseling Services Provided

9th Grade
Incoming Freshman Course Selection 
Compass Class Topics: Intelligences, Course Selection 
Testing: PSAT 8/9 (Fall) and IOWA (Spring) 

10th Grade

College Placement Panel Discussion 
Compass Class Topics: Interest Inventory, Course Selection, Academic Concentrations, Internships, Summer Plans
Testing: PSAT, PreACT

11th Grade
Junior Parent Meetings (September) 
Junior College Meeting (November) 
On-Campus College Representative Visits 
College Placement Panel Discussion 
Compass Class Topics: Career Profile, Academic Concentrations, Honors Diploma Introduction, Course Selection, College Search, Common App Intro + Essay topics, College Visits, Genesis Career Exploration 
Testing: PSAT-NMSQT, ACT 

12th Grade

Senior Parent Meeting (August)
Individual Parent Meetings (as needed) 
College Now Meetings 
On-Campus College Representative Visits 
Interpreting Financial Aid Awards
Compass Class Topics: Common App + Ferpa, Essay, Senior Brag Sheet, Letters of Recommendation, College Visits, School Decision, Scholarships
Testing: ACT/SAT (as needed) 
 

College Counseling Strengths

List of 3 items.

  • Academic

    • Counselors provide individual advising in selecting high school coursework.
    • The goal is for each student to be challenged at the level that is appropriate to their individual ability.
    • Counselors collaborate with the Student Success Center for additional support.
  • Personal & Social

    • Our department has 5 full-time licensed counselors who have master’s degrees in counseling and are skilled in supporting students with social and emotional difficulties.
    • Students can have individual confidential counseling sessions with their school counselors whenever needed.
    • Counselors make referrals to community counselors and psychologists when student needs reach beyond the scope of school counseling. We work collaboratively with these professionals to ensure academic, personal and emotional growth.
  • College & Career

    • All students receive accounts for Naviance, an on-line program for college planning, that they will use throughout their four years.
    • Freshmen complete the three learning style self assessments
    • Sophomores will complete two career interest inventories through Naviance
    • Freshmen will take the PSAT 8/9
    • Sophomores will take the PSAT and the Pre-ACT
    • All students will build resumes in Naviance and research colleges
    • Juniors take the PSAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test
    • Seniors have college application workshops during their Compass classes with their school counselors, which meets several times per month
    • Students have individual college conferences with their counselors during the spring of their junior year and fall of their senior year

Student Support Services

  • Consults with staff and parents regarding the social/emotional well-being of students
  • Provides direct social/emotional support to students
  • Conducts psychoeducational assessments used in the determination of eligibility for accommodation plan services
  • Supervises and supports students on academic plans, works individually with students
  • Serves for a resource for parents and teachers
Visit our Student Support Services page to learn more. Magnificat is a proud Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship provider.

Meet the Counseling Team

List of 1 members.

Adrianne Felger, M.Ed., LPCC-S
Director of Counseling
afelger@maghs.org
B.A., Allegheny College
M.Ed., Duquesne University
Moira Caliguire '82
Director of College Programming
mcaliguire@maghs.org
B.A., John Carroll University
M.A., John Carroll University

LaTonya Johnson
Student Support Manager
ljohnson@maghs.org
B.A., University of Akron
Jessica Roth McCoy ’04, M.Ed.
School Counselor 
jroth@maghs.org
B.A. & M.Ed., Xavier University
Melissa Smyth, M.Ed.
School Counselor
msmyth@maghs.org
B.S., Baldwin Wallace University
M.Ed., University of Phoenix
Hannah Summerville-Miller
School Counselor
hsummerville@maghs.org
B.A., Kent State University
Elisa Talmage, MA
School Counselor
etalmage@maghs.org
B.A., Cornerstone University
M.A., Western Michigan University
Bridget Dunne-Pauly
Administrative Assistant
bdunnepauly@maghs.org

Contact the Counseling Department: 440-331-3595

College Credit Plus

College Credit Plus (CCP) is Ohio’s dual enrollment program that provides students in grades 7-12 the opportunity to earn college and high school credits at the same time by taking courses from Ohio colleges or universities. Click the links for more information. Please note: Magnificat's Information Retrieval Number (IRN) is 053215

Information Session on College Credit Plus for Private School Students

Withdrawal Policy

When a student chooses to withdraw from Magnificat High School, a parent/guardian must contact their student’s Magnificat School Counselor to discuss the withdrawal process. If a student withdraws from Magnificat High School for any reason, all financial obligations must be met before her transcript is released.  Official school records will be transmitted upon written request only if the withdrawn student has paid all tuition and fees and has satisfied all other obligations to the school such as returning all textbooks and/or technology.
Magnificat High School, a girls' Catholic college-preparatory high school, founded and sponsored by the Sisters of the Humility of Mary, educates young women holistically to learn, lead, and serve in the spirit of Mary’s Magnificat.